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Hi there,
So I have a Vitus Nucleus VR 27 and the rear hub, as you'd expect, is about as durable as cheese. So, seeing as it's already starting to bind and the bearings are showing wear already, rather than spend £20 on another mediocre freehub I'd rather just get a decent hub/wheelset.
So, in terms of value options, I've been looking at the Superstar V6 with WTB i29 rims and Sapim spokes for £170, the only decent 'prebuilt' I can see around that price is the Nukeproof Neutron V2 which appears to be rebranded Novatec/WTB bits, so probably worse in reality. I'd also need to buy end caps as the frame is QR dropouts whereas the V6 hub I can order with the correct setup.
Any other alternatives?
how about this: https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Shimano-WH-MT501-27-5-rear-wheel_234170.htm
its below ur price but seems good
Appreciate the idea, but that one is boost thru-axle and microspline, none of which works with my setup (135mm QR and HG)
If the price is right for that Superstar wheel I’d probably give that a whirl. Is that for one wheel presumably - not a pair?
I’d avoid Shimano hubs that have cup and cone bearing as they need maintenance - if you neglect them they die as the cups get pitted. Novatec are ok in some models - as long as you get ones you can get parts for easily.
DT 370 hubs aren’t bad for cheap ones as long as you aren’t heavy / mentally powerful.
Most other stuff you’ll be paying nearly £170 just for a rear hub in all probability.
You could try ringing some like Ryan Builds Wheels and see what they could do you for a wheel with a Bitex hub. They’re a cut above Novatec but cheaper than Hope.
I have some of the superstar hubs on some Alex rims, and I have no grumbles. Build was fine and they have caused me no fuss and they are still wheel shaped. Which is about all I want from a wheel to be fair.
Yeah the £170ish is for the Superstar V6 hubs, WTB i29 rims and Sapim Race spokes. They do their own brand Isotope rim too for the same price, seems it may be a bit stronger than the WTB but the current wheel I have uses an i30 rim and I've had no issues.
Cup and core bearings are what I have currently and, along with a totally unsealed, yet sealed from servicing freehub body (disposable plastic waste, basically), the level of attention they need after getting a bit dirty is tiresome.
Was having a look around and can get a DT Swiss M1900 for the £200 mark, it's an option but the Superstar build seems better value?
Well, did some reading and found some topics on here singing the praises, so went for the V6 hubs and Isotope rims. Added some orange nipples too for a bit of colour, match the orange tubeless valves!
I've been pleased with my V6 build(mine is with Stans Flow). So far they've managed to be cheap, light and strong. They also sound good.
I’ve had some insane deals from SS on wheels, don’t hesitate. Common sense check spoke tensions, I had one needed to go to bike shop out of the eight wheels I’ve had from them, it was cheaper than posting back for them to do FOC. Last set was a Flow rim on their hub and has survived my 95kg at BPW over 20 or so trips. As well as my bulk they also manage to put up with low skill levels.
I know this isn’t answering the question but I gave up on cheaper wheels a while back when I bought my first Hope hubs. My Pro2 hubs can still be used on most bikes nowadays and must be 10 years old at least, now running 11sp shimano.
I have a limited budget for my new gravel wheels but I’m saving for some Pro 4 hubs to be built up into a set of wheels as I know they will last me a very very long time and therefore be great value.
Superstar aren't what they were, they used to sell rebranded Hubs but they're made in house now so long term support shouldn't be an issue. They've been making the V6 for a while now so it's not like they're changing specs all the time.
I got a set of Superstar V6 on Isotope hubs recently for my rigid plus.
They're absolutely lush to be honest. They sound great too.
Recommended.
Good news, anyway just had notification from the couriers that they're delivering Monday so happy days
Bought a set of neutrons to replace some superstar (novatech rebrand just before they did everything in house). Vast improvement. Be interesting to see the V6 to compare, but the ss/novatech were slow to engage and ultimately failed in two years.
Superstar are hard to beat tbh, especially when they're doing their discounts- last time I got a set of theirs it was barely more than the cost of the rims and spokes never mind the hubs. As it happened, one of the wheels was built badly- it'd been assembled and tensioned with some visibly bent spokes which is ridiculous frankly (no chance it happened after the build- the bent spokes were distributed around the wheel and the tension was perfect). But even then it was sorted really quickly and easily so while it was unimpressive, it did work out fine. And the value was just daft.
20% off wheelsets at Superstar in May with code MAY21WHEELS - https://mailchi.mp/superstarcomponents/mm42-38516
I've bought several wheelsets from Superstar hard to beat on price when they do deep discounts (built wheels for less than hub cost) but I've had a few loose spokes out of the box more than once. I'm sure they'd sort if I complained but last recent set I only realised once I'd set it up tubeless and fitted when it wobbled so spent another 30 min tensioning.
I've replaced the stock wheels with V3/WTB i23 rims on my Planet X tempest. Really impressed with them - well tensioned out of the box, decent weight for the low price, WTB rims are great tubeless and so far they've survived my ham fisted trail riding on a rigid bike.
Paid £160 for the pair. Sure the V3s are the cheaper option but so far (only six months use) been flawless.